Hatchet attack and robbery in downtown New West send victim to hospital

Photo: file photo

A person is recovering after being assaulted with a hatchet and robbed in downtown New West.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 3, New Westminster police officers were called to the area outside the New Westminster SkyTrain station in response to a violent robbery in progress. A witness who called 911 reported that someone was being assaulted with a hatchet and robbed of their bag.

According to the New Westminster Police Department, officers rushed to the scene and located the victim, who was given first aid and was reassured by officers that BC Ambulance and New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services were en route. Nearby, police arrested a suspect matching the description provided by witnesses.

“Officers believe there may have been more witnesses that saw this assault and fled the area,” NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Sanjay Kumar said in a news release. “We’re wanting to speak to those people to both listen to what they experienced and provide them resources after having witnessed this violent assault.”

The victim was transported to hospital where they are recovering from numerous lacerations to the head and upper body.

At this time, police believe this incident was an unprovoked attack, and the victim and suspect are not known to each other.

Abdulkadir Hassan, a 30-year-old Burnaby resident, has been charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of robbery.

Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to call the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.